​Nationwide Protest Held in Kurdistan Region Against Overdue Salary

Civil servants in several parts of the Kurdistan Region held mass protests on Tuesday against salary delays and austerity measures by the government. A large number of government employees turned up for the protests in Sulaimani province, while small numbers were seen in Erbil due to strict security restrictions and a threat from local authorities.

Teachers refused to participate in the new academic year and gathered alongside the public outside of the Sulaimani General Directorate of Education and the office of the Sulaimani Governorate.

Protestors called on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to review its system of payments, announced early this year, which reduces the salaries of employees in the Kurdistan Region according to their position in the government.

Protestors in Sulaimani blocked a major road in the city and headed toward the office of the Sulaimani Provincial Council.

Salaries for government workers have been plagued by delays since 2014 and employees did not receive their July salary yet.